Is my computer going to choke to death trying to edit EX3 footage? at DVinfo.net

Joe Holt · March 30th, 2013, 07:01 AM

Hello,

I've been out of hands-on production for quite some time and am now looking to get back into the game. I want to start working with a Sony EX3 and was wondering if I am going to be able to even work with the footage on my current system. Here are my system specs:

Model Name: MacBook Pro 17"
Model Identifier: MacBookPro2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP21.00A5.B08
SMC Version (system): 1.14f5
Serial Number (system): W872101MW0M
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-001B631E7872
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

I am running Final Cut Pro 6.06 and using OSX version 10.5.8

I am planning on updating the operating system and upgrading to the latest version of FC but will the hardware handle the file sizes? I noticed that final cut has a hard time playing back footage shot on a GoPro and was wondering if that was a fair indicator of what I could expect from EX3 footage.

Thank you for your help. Joe

Andy Wilkinson · March 30th, 2013, 10:24 AM

A few years ago I was editing EX3 projects in FCP 6 no problem on a slightly higher spec mid-2008 MBP, 15 inch in my case, and I still have it/still works well, albeit it is not my main editing machine now.

Note that I have always edited natively with XDCAM, never needing to convert to ProRes (but that may help you). Sure, FCP 6 is a bit clunky compared to my current NLE (Adobe) but it worked well enough at the time if you rendered the timeline as you worked along.

However, I have 4GB RAM in that MBP and I think the 2GB that you have in your MBP is cutting it MUCH too fine for any of the current NLEs. Others may be able to comment but I would get that upped to 4GB if possible. Even the old FCP 6 would benefit greatly from that boost, but cannot use more than about 3.5GB - if I remember correctly.

I believe FCPX will really struggle/choke on your spec MBP.... but again those that use it will have to comment.

For sure, you will want to put all your media on an external drive. I use G-Tech GRAID units via FW800 or eSATA and they work really well.

Joe Holt · March 30th, 2013, 04:07 PM

Andy,

Thanks for the insight. I am planning on getting a new MBP eventually but I was hoping to be able to make a little cash with the old unit before buying a new computer. I'll look into upgrading the ram. Thanks again. Joe

Des Carolan · March 31st, 2013, 10:02 AM

Hi Joe, as Andy says upgrade the ram to 4gb and you should be good to go, i have been using media composer on a similarly speced 15 inch for years with no probs however i did up grade to a newer model with quad core but had to upgrade to a newer version of media composer and dont notice a lot of difference. i know that you are on fcp and i do have fcp on my older mac which works fine but my day to day experience is with avid.

Joe Holt · April 1st, 2013, 07:16 AM

Thanks for the info. After some research, I discovered that my model of MacBook Pro can only be upgraded to 3GB of Ram (MA611LL/A) I can't believe I bought this thing in the Fall of 2006! Anyhow. I learned that I can install a pair of 2 GB ram chips but the 32 bit architecture can only handle 3.3 GB. I'm going to do that as it is only about $60 and will plan on upgrading the computer sooner than later. Thanks again, Joe

March 30th, 2013, 07:01 AM	#1
Joe Holt Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sylva, North Carolina Posts: 153	Is my computer going to choke to death trying to edit EX3 footage? Hello, I've been out of hands-on production for quite some time and am now looking to get back into the game. I want to start working with a Sony EX3 and was wondering if I am going to be able to even work with the footage on my current system. Here are my system specs: Model Name: MacBook Pro 17" Model Identifier: MacBookPro2,1 Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Speed: 2.33 GHz Number Of Processors: 1 Total Number Of Cores: 2 L2 Cache: 4 MB Memory: 2 GB Bus Speed: 667 MHz Boot ROM Version: MBP21.00A5.B08 SMC Version (system): 1.14f5 Serial Number (system): W872101MW0M Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-001B631E7872 Sudden Motion Sensor: State: Enabled I am running Final Cut Pro 6.06 and using OSX version 10.5.8 I am planning on updating the operating system and upgrading to the latest version of FC but will the hardware handle the file sizes? I noticed that final cut has a hard time playing back footage shot on a GoPro and was wondering if that was a fair indicator of what I could expect from EX3 footage. Thank you for your help. Joe

March 30th, 2013, 10:24 AM	#2
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: Is my computer going to choke to death trying to edit EX3 footage? A few years ago I was editing EX3 projects in FCP 6 no problem on a slightly higher spec mid-2008 MBP, 15 inch in my case, and I still have it/still works well, albeit it is not my main editing machine now. Note that I have always edited natively with XDCAM, never needing to convert to ProRes (but that may help you). Sure, FCP 6 is a bit clunky compared to my current NLE (Adobe) but it worked well enough at the time if you rendered the timeline as you worked along. However, I have 4GB RAM in that MBP and I think the 2GB that you have in your MBP is cutting it MUCH too fine for any of the current NLEs. Others may be able to comment but I would get that upped to 4GB if possible. Even the old FCP 6 would benefit greatly from that boost, but cannot use more than about 3.5GB - if I remember correctly. I believe FCPX will really struggle/choke on your spec MBP.... but again those that use it will have to comment. For sure, you will want to put all your media on an external drive. I use G-Tech GRAID units via FW800 or eSATA and they work really well. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

March 30th, 2013, 04:07 PM	#3
Joe Holt Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sylva, North Carolina Posts: 153	Re: Is my computer going to choke to death trying to edit EX3 footage? Andy, Thanks for the insight. I am planning on getting a new MBP eventually but I was hoping to be able to make a little cash with the old unit before buying a new computer. I'll look into upgrading the ram. Thanks again. Joe

March 31st, 2013, 10:02 AM	#4
Des Carolan New Boot Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Limerick, Ireland Posts: 19	Re: Is my computer going to choke to death trying to edit EX3 footage? Hi Joe, as Andy says upgrade the ram to 4gb and you should be good to go, i have been using media composer on a similarly speced 15 inch for years with no probs however i did up grade to a newer model with quad core but had to upgrade to a newer version of media composer and dont notice a lot of difference. i know that you are on fcp and i do have fcp on my older mac which works fine but my day to day experience is with avid.

April 1st, 2013, 07:16 AM	#5
Joe Holt Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sylva, North Carolina Posts: 153	Re: Is my computer going to choke to death trying to edit EX3 footage? Thanks for the info. After some research, I discovered that my model of MacBook Pro can only be upgraded to 3GB of Ram (MA611LL/A) I can't believe I bought this thing in the Fall of 2006! Anyhow. I learned that I can install a pair of 2 GB ram chips but the 32 bit architecture can only handle 3.3 GB. I'm going to do that as it is only about $60 and will plan on upgrading the computer sooner than later. Thanks again, Joe